fanslow



B. o. FANSLOW.

CHECK PHOTECTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEDJUNE3,1918. l

1 ,333,106, Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

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B. 0. FNSLUW.

CHECK PROTECHNC MACHINE.

v APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3.1918- 1,333,106. Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

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BENJAMIN o. EANsLow, E WHITE rniiiNs, NEW Yonir, Assieiron rro NEW Ean iure. Vico., 0E NEW Yonir, N. A. conronnrron or New Yoan.

CHECK-PaerEcTiNo iuaoiiiNE.

To all fuffwm it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN CLFANS- Low, a citizen ofthe-United States, residing in VYliite Plains, county of vWestchester, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Check-Protecting Machines,fof which the following is a description.

This invention relates to check protecting machines, and, particularly, to the type thereof known as check-writers and to the further type thereof wherein the movements imparted to the printing-wheel are produced by a plunger-twirler.

Among the objects of my invention may be noted the following: to provide a check protecting` :machine with means whereby the printing-wheel may be klocked in functional or printing position during the printing movement imparted thereto, ysaid means being'simple, durable, strong andeconomical to produce; to provide a printing-wheel locking means in part carried by the printing-wheel supporting means and in part by a stationary or rigid part of the machine: to provide means by which the printing-wheel and pointer are held together for coperative 'action and which insures the positive rotation of the pointer lwith the printingwheel; to provide means by which the printing-wheel is held snugly against the front of the machine at all times whereby the printing impression will be regular, uniform and positive, regardless of the line of typeor type-block which may be set foi.I impression purposes; to provide a combination of means by which the check may be printed and fed through Vthe machine toward' the operator so that each impression made immediately becomes visible and is brought into full view of the operator; and to provide certain details of construction which are strong, siniple and durable for supporting and actuating the printing-wheel for its various functional purposes.

in order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have provided drawings wherein: i i A i Figure 1 is a front elevation showingv a Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented Mar. 9, 19290.

Application led June 3, 1918. Serial No. 237,967.

forni of check-'writer embodying my invention; y

Fig. 2 is a` sectional view of the machine taken substantially on' the line 2-2, for example, of Fig. 3;

vFig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line of Fig. l; and

Fig. d is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a different position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l indicates the bed of the machine and 2 the frame or housing for the various operating mechanisms. The frame 2 is, or may be, cast or formed in one piece and is so shaped as to provide at the bottom thereof at opposite ends a rib 3 and channel dlfor the cooperation of correspondingly formed ends of the bed l, the s ructure being such that the frame 2 is supported upon the'bed l, while the latter, at its ends, is entirely covered by the frame. At back and front, the frame 2 is provided with members 5, the outer surfaces of which rounded and the inner surfaces of which are fiat and inclined so as to coperate with correspondingly formed front and back surfaces of the bed, this structure making a close, strong and neat fit between the bed and the frame. The bed and frame are held together by a plurality of screws 6 extending through the bottoni of the bed and into the rib of the frame at its opposite ends, rthe frame 3 is so formed est above the upper surface of the bed as to provide a passage for the check through the machine, slots 7 at front and back of the frame giving free nassage to' the cheek and also being sufliciently large to receive a pair of check-guides, the bases S of which are proviflefl with one or more lugs operating iii a groove l() extending longitudinally of the bed in its upper surface at its back, just within the back of the frame, see Figs. 2, 3, and et. The check-guides are arranged on opposite sides of the platen ll and may be shifted along said grooves to positions enabling them to engage the opposite edges of the check to be printed. The guiding member 12 vof the check-guides is U-shaped and said member extends, from Y place the same for coperation with the type-blocks on the printing-Wheel. The upper surface of the platen, as also the surfaces of thetypeblocks, is preferably provided With a plurality of points :or projections and depressions which, when brought 1 together `upon the opposite surfaces 'of the check, macerate the liber so as to enable yit to freadily labsorb fthe ink `spread xupon the surface 'of thel typelblocl:s,this bengdoneby breaking, disrupting, or votherwise disfiguring the ber of Y thel check, Without literally cutting ithrough or cleanly separating the ber. l

In order to protect the surface oflthe desk ortalileluponivhichthe machine is set, the bed "1 -is Iprovided with a. Inat 16, `which may lbe `of `rubber, ffelt, or other soft inaterial fcalculated to both protect the desk surface 'and deaden the sound of the operation-ofthefniaehine. The matalso hastthe functionof covering"theheadsV of the screws 6, lWhichI secure the bed 'and frame together.

`Withinf the frame, and' considerably above thebed,'two oppositely disposed and quite substantial Webs 117 are provided, in each of which fa "channel lor guideivay A18 is formed, the'function of 'which is to guide the oppositeledgesof the'cross-head, carrier or fplunger 19 from Vwhich extends vertically the spindle v20, `the upper end of which is screivthrea ded,"asat 21, and on which is *threaded i the 'nut 22 operating as supporting "and Vholding means Afor the handle'r23, by which l the plunger or cross-head 19 `-is eman,ipulated The Y spindle -20 extends tl'irough the sheath `24,'Whieh is recessed at its upper end for the reception ofthe coiled spfri'ng, which surrounds the spindle'QO, and the upperend ofivhieh spring engages the nut22 'whereby to lnrnnially hold 'the handle'QB, 'spindle 20, andcross-head 19 in elevated position, las 'shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The spindle 20 is connected at its lower 'endto abevelgear 26, Whi'choperates through a vslet'727 in "the .plunger 19, the handlefQS thus Valso having 'the function Y of 'frotating or twirling' the spindlel 2O land the bevelegear QG. The plunger 19 is provided Witlrthe ilaterally extending, hollow hub orbarrel'28, `Which extends toward the front of 'the v"frame and i which l is surrounded by l'the hub 29 `of a `lo`evel-gear VA29a `which meshes vvith the bevel-gear 26, "said hub being externally screw-threaded for'thereception of the internally screw-threaded web of the printing-Wheel 30, see Figs. 3 and 4. The printing-Wheel has any desired ninnber of type surfaces or blocks 31, l? ig. i2, upon `which the livords are formed, and Which cooperate witlrthe platen 11. r1`he outer end of the hub 29 has secured thereto, by rneans of screws 33, the internally screwthreaded ring S2, reee'iif'ing the screwthreaded end of the hub 34 of the pointer 35, `which is located outside the front of the frame and the hub of Which operates in the elongatedslot 36 in said frame. The surface of the front of the freine is dialed, as at 37, the indicialheing arranged circularly so as to cooperate with the pointer 35 when the same is twirled. Thebarrel QS'hous-es u spring 3S which operates to forcee. pin) outwardlyY Vagainstthe end of the hub 3l-of the 'pointer,^`thus normally pressing thehuh outwardly, together `with the ring 3Q, hub 29of` the bevel-gear, andthe printing-ivlieel 30, f the latter 'being provided with a flange 40, which engages a smooth platelet-1 snitablysecured to'the innersurface of the front of ithe "frame lof the machine. inasmuch as 1the inner surface of the front of the fraineinay beuneven or be soniewhat rough. resulting in retarding the 'movement of the printing-Wheel when it is desired te rotate thesaine and also during its reciprocating niovenientythe smooth plate 41 is interposed between the inner surface ofthe frame :1nd thesnrface of the flange 40, thus enabling the p1inting-\vlieel Ato yhave a -perfectlv smooth, uniforniaiulliat surface to rotate and reciprocate against,`the spring 18 nm'- reallyY yieldingly 'holding the printing ivheelf against said plate 41 and insuring also the proper "cooperation vof the tyiie-bloelrs Withthe platen. Moreover, thebeifel-gear carried bythe hub 29 is maintained 'properly inl'niesh Witlrthe gear 2G ivithoutbinding or slipping. Thus the handlel?, is'enablcd @to positively rotate fthe printingH ivheel in opposite-directions and likewise drive the saine into printing position.

It isessential that the,printingovheel he positively and lirmly ilocked during the printing operation so as'to prevent a typeblo'ck, lafter being set afer a print-,ingeperation` from shifting out of'coperative relation Withfthe platen. To prevent such shifting,'a positivelocking mechanism is employed consisting of'a fixture `4:2 hailing airunderlientmember'43 secured to the botteni of one ft'heivebs 17, so that its bifurcated arm or extension l44 may he held rigidlyy in position to receive between its prongs the rear end 45 of a lever fulcrumed at 46 vbetween a pair of lugs '47 on the hottom of thezplunger 19 just above the inner surface of the'printing-wheel 30. The forward end 48 of the said lever is extended into position to 'cooperate with a plurality of circumferentially arranged ribs or lugs 49 carried on thelinner surface of the printing-wheel 30, said extension 48, in order to loclr the printing-wheel from movement, being projected between a pair of said lugs as the printing-wheel is moved into printing position. The operation of the lever is brought about by the depression of the cross-head 19 which bodily carries the fulcrum 48 of the locking lever downwardly, thus causing its rear extension 45 to engage one of the prongs of the member 44, causing the forward end 48 of the lever to dip downwardly and be projected between a pair of lugs 49 on the printing-wheel. On the upward movement of the plunger, carrying' the fnlcrum of the locking lever upwardly and likewise the printing-wheel, the rearward extension 45 of the locking lever will engage the opposite prong` of the bifurcated member 44, thus causing theforward end 48 of the locking lever to be lifted from cooperation with the lugs 49 -so as to release the printing-wheel and enable it to be twirled by the handle 23 when the printing-wheel has reached its uppermost position.

The type-blocks 31 of the printing-wheel are inked in any suitable manner, a means forthe purpose being` illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and shown as consisting yof a pair of inking rollers 50, carried by the levers 51 pivoted to the plunger 19 and norina-lly drawn together by a spring 52, so as to cause the inking rollers to normally yieldingly engage the printing-wheel.'

A variable or adjustable feedingmechanism is also provided, thedetails of which are made the subject of an application Serial No. 237,966 filed by ine of even date herewit i: but, herein the feedingmeqhanism may be generally referred to as consisting of a feed regulating or adjusting lever 58 fulcrumed at 54 to a supporting member 55, the lower'end of which lever engages a bifurcated feed-slide 56 carrying a feed-dogl 57 at its forward end, said feed-dopbeing' mov able independently of the feed-slide to engage the upper surface of the paper vand release the same according to the movement of the feed-slide; The spring .58 holds theA feed regulating lever 53 normally in the position shown in Fig. 3, and a projection 59 on said lever engages a gage-member GO splined to the spindleQO and adapted to be rotated therewith, but having no reciprocating' movement. The gage-member y60 is provided with a plurality of gage-shoulders er projections adapted `to coperate with-the projectionl '59 of the feed controlling' lever. whereby the feed movementof the dog` and slide is regulated, all as clearly set forth in my said copending application. Acombined stripper and presser forthe check, working in coopera-tion with the printingycouple, and

a det-ent for the check, working in coperation with'the feed-dog` to prevent retrieving the check, are part of my machine; but, the same are, omitted from the drawings to avoid confusion.

Having` thus described the details of my invention., the following modek of operation will be readily understood:

lvhen the check-guides 12 have been properly set for the width of check to be printed, the check will be slid thereinto at the rear of the machine under the tongues 14 and pushed forward until itsfront end is discernible through the front slot 7 of the frame 2, the feed-dog yielding to the passage of the check. The handle 23 is then twirled to turn the printing-wheel and Y set the proper type-block in position for coperation with the platen. The handle 28 is then struck a sharp blow with the hand, thus driving the handle, `spindlc plunger and printing-wheel downwardly so that the typeblock thereof will engage the check and force the same' against the platen. As the printing-wheel goes 'to functional position, the locking lever is caused to dip its extension 48 between two lugs 49 on the printingwheel, thus locking,` the latter from rotary movement.y The return of the handle spindle, plunger and printing-wheel, under l,

the expansive force of spring` 25, will return allv the parts to normal position and will elevate theforward end of the locking` lever,` thus releasingl the printing-wheel and cnabling the latter to be rotated again to set the next type-block in functional position. After the printing operation just described has been performed, the feed controlling lever isshifted by the finger toward the handle 23 until the projection 59 of said lever engages a. projectionv or shoulder vof the rage-member G0, the latter having' been twirled when the printing-wheel was twirled, so as to set the proper feed regulating shoulder in position for cooperation with the projection 59. The lever 53 is then released and the spring' 58 will return it to normalv position simultaneously drivingthe feedslide 56 from b-aclr to front of the machine and causing the feed-dog1 thereof to feed-the paper through the `machine the required regulated distance for the length of the word printed, plus the space between the saine and the neXt word to be printed. The feed movement, or impulse, thus imparted to the check causes the latter to move toward the operator under his eyes so that he can see what has been printed. This visibility of the printed impression as it -is made by the Amachine is of great practical and commercial importance and advantage.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to sec-ure by Letters Patent is:

1. A check protecting,- machine having' a reciprocating plunger, rigid guides carried by the machine iframe for eonning ythe plunger to right-line movements, said plungerfhaving a printing-Wheel journaled` thereon and carrying a lockingleverfor the print'- ing-Wheel, means on the printing Wheel enabling the lever to hold fthe Wheel `from movement, and'means between the machine frame andV lever y:fol-'actuating "the latter to engage l and 'f lock the printinglivheel.

i2. 'A locking means for printing-Wheels forchecl I'protecting machines comprising a rigidly V'set iXture Ihaving a bifureated end, a printing-Wheel and means whereby the same may rotated land Yreciprecated7 a locking lever "forcoperation with the printing-Wheel Phaving an :extension yiter engagement with the( 'bifurcated 'Xture, and .interacting meansbetiveen the lever and printin g-'ivheel whereby, f vih en the printing-Wheel is drivenlto functional positiomf the locking lever will engage the'same and preventit .from shifting or rotating.

3. Means I:t`or"holding a printi'ng-Wheel of a eheckprotectingmachinetrue to its-Work, comprising Aa frame having a smooth :surfaced plate applied thereto, aprinting-Wheel having a surface for'enga'gement VWithsaid plate, means 'Ifor Supporting -said printing- Wheel, and means fvfor yieldinglyholding the printing-wheel against said plate.

A checkprotecting'machine including in combination, -afra1ne, -a support vfor a printing Wheel, ajprinting Wheel journaled onsaidsupport and adapted tohave alimited Emovement 1in a direction parallel `With rheaxis of the eprinting fivheel, Imeans for limiting and g'uidingthemovements of the printing Wheel, and means Afor'fholding the printing AWheel in contact Withsaid limiting and guidingimeans.

A cheek protecting'machine including in combination, a iframe having la smooth surfaced ``plate applied thereto,V a printing Wheelfhaving asunface for engagement with said `plate,means for supporting said 'printing 'Wheel wherebythe same mayibe rotated. and "means orholding the printing` Wheel in contactuwith said'plate whereby7 saidplate determines the printing position of said printing Wheel. v

G. Acheck protecting` machine having a rotary rprinti iig-Wheel, the ihub of which is hollow, a pointer securedto thehub f the wheel, a'holloiv 'supporting member upon whichf the Wheel is journaled, means Within the said member `normally'tending to shift the printing-Wheel longitudinally of the supporting member, and'means 5for limiting and iguiding fthe printing Wheel.

7. A check protecting machine-comprising a printing-Wheel, aplunger confined to reciprocating movements, means by which to reciprocate the plunger, and connections betvveenthe plunger andthe printing-Wheel 1 ,se 3 ice whereby the latter may be rotated and reciprocated, comprisinga bevel-gear carried by the plunger, abarrel carriedby the pliniger, a'Vbevel-gear journaled upon the barrel and adapted 'Ito .mesh with the first named gear, and the vhub of the saidsecondnamed gear v4having 'the printing-wheel secured thereto.

'8. Acheckpretecting machine including in combination, a printing wheel, a plunger conlined `=to reciprocating increments, means for `reciprocating the plu11ger,zniea1is for supporting said printing Wheel on said plunger and Afor rotating said printing Wheel by said plunger,comprising a bevelcdgear carriedfby theplunger and rotating therewith, a second i beveled gear ournaled :in coperative relation avith the first-named beveled gear and'having a hub formed thereon, a printing Wheel securedtto said lhub, and a pointer secured to saidhub.

"9. Acheck'protecting machine including in combination7 a spindle, means lforrotating the-spindle, a l'beveled gear carried by said spindle, a bearing, -a second beveled gear --journaled in coperativerelation with the first-named beveled gear on said bearing, saidsecondbeveled gear being-mounted-oirsaidbearing so as'toslide longitudinallythereof, -v a pointer secured to tlie'hub of said second'beveled gear, a printing Wheel secured to the hub oi said secondbevel gear, means carried-by the bearingnormallytending to shiftthe printing-Wheel endivisc of the bearing, and means `for limiting and guiding` said printing `Wheel.

"10. A check'protecting'machine including in combination, aframe, aplunger mounted to reciprocate vertically in the frame, a printing'niheel movableup and down with said plunger and rotated by said plunger, a feeding'mechanism Vimluding a reciprocating feedingdevice, a gage for limitingthe movement of saidaeciprocating 'feeding device, said gage `having a fixed relation to the `'feeding device-and having connections With said plungerivhereby said gage is rotated with the'v plunger but'is unaffectedby the endivisemovement of 'the plunger.

1l. Alcheck protecting machine including in combination, a `supporting "frame, a lreciprocating member vmounted therein, a plunger igor reciprocating said member, a printing Wheel mounted on said reciprocating member and havinggeared connection Withftheplunger whereby the rotations of the' plunger set'the printing wheel, a yleeding mechanism including a reciprocating` device, a `gage member "for limiting lthe nevements of said reciprocating` device, said gage member having asplined connection ivith said plunger whereby it ma)v be rotatedwviththeplungerbut is free yfrom the endivise` movements of the n plunger.

12. A check protectiim machine including lli) in combination, a frame7 a reciprocating member mounted therein, a printing Wheel journaled in said member,'a gear carried b y said printing Wheel, a plunger ournaled in said reciprocating member, a gear mounted on the plunger and meshing with the gear on the printing Wheel andy holding the plunger from endivise movements in the reciprocating member whereby said reciprocating member may be moved up and down by the plunger, a feeding mechanism including a reciprocating feeding device, and a gage member for limiting the movements of the feeding device, Said gage member having splined connection with said plunger, and means for holding the gage member from endWise movements with the plunger.

BENJAMIN O. FANSLOW. 

